Tigist Abyot is a passionate coffee farmer who runs her farm alongside her husband. Though they manage it together, Tigist is the driving force, as her husband holds a government office job. Their coffee journey began after their marriage when they received a small coffee plot as a gift. Recognizing the growing opportunities in the coffee industry, they gradually expanded their farm from just 2 hectares to its current size of 7.76 hectares.
Despite being new to the international export market, Tigist quickly made a name for herself. She obtained her export license in 2022, and her coffees—featured in this OCR project—have already impressed with some of the highest cupping scores. Before this, she sold exclusively in the local Ethiopian market, without access to direct international buyers. Now, with this opportunity, she hopes to build lasting relationships with roasters worldwide.
Her farm is located in Shashamene kebele, Kochere woreda, within the Yirgacheffe zone—an area renowned for producing some of Ethiopia’s finest coffees. The farm benefits from mild daytime temperatures (20-25°C) and cool nights (dropping as low as 13°C), which allow the cherries to ripen slowly, developing more complex flavors. The Gelana River runs nearby, providing an additional source of moisture and fertility, ensuring optimal coffee-growing conditions.
Tigist and her family oversee 135 drying beds, producing 9.6 tons of specialty-grade coffee for export, alongside smaller volumes for their own consumption. The coffee undergoes a careful drying process, taking 15 to 21 days to reach the ideal moisture level of 10-11.5%. It is turned six times a day for even drying, and Tigist ensures that covers protect it from rain and nighttime temperature drops.
With the 2025 OCR: Smallholder Series we want to link roasters and producers who are interested in direct long-term relationships. Due to transparent payment structures we can assure all premium payments are reaching the hands of the farmer, making the impact of the relation measurable. Tigist and the other participating producers are eager to further improve quality and develop their coffee business.
Looking ahead, Tigist dreams of establishing her own dry coffee mill to gain greater control over processing and improve quality even further. She is also eager to invest in floating tanks, which would allow her to separate lower-quality beans more effectively, elevating the overall cup profile. Her message to roasters worldwide is simple but heartfelt:
“We kept our ancestors’ coffee business to share this distinct flavor with the world. Taste our coffee and come again and again.”
Operation Cherry Red: Smallholder Series 2025 exposes unique Ethiopian smallholder coffees. By working directly with these producers, we ensure premium payments reach the right hands and trace lots back to individual families. For roasters, this is a unique chance to source coffee right at its roots—challenging the norm of sourcing from regional washing stations. By partnering with exceptional smallholders, roasters can support truly impactful, transparent, and traceable coffee supply chains. Learn more about the OCR project here or discover other participating producers below.
